Three dimensional tic-tac-toe device

ABSTRACT

A game device consisting of a body of transparent material with groups of holes extending therethrough in three directions. Each group of holes when viewed in the direction of the length thereof is arranged in a uniform grid pattern. The holes extending in each direction are coplanar with the holes extending in the other two directions whereby the holes intersect within the body in groups of three with the points of intersection of the holes being in linear alignment in each of the three directions as well as diagonally. Resilient elements, balls, for example, are receivable in the holes and a rod-like pusher is provided for pushing the resilient elements along a hole to a point of intersection and therefrom to another point of intersection. A three dimensional form of tic-tac-toe can be played by utilizing the described game device.

O United States Patent l m ll 11 3,888,487 Replogle MM June 10, 1975 l l THREE DIMENSIONAL 'l'l(.'-'lAC-T()E Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham DEVICE Assistant Examiner-Harry G. Struppello [76] Inventor: Daniel C. Replogle. 40b Spzmg St. Agent or FlrmMelvm Crosby Roaring Spring. Pii. 16673 221 Filed: Nov. 5. I974 [57] ABSTRACT A game device consisting of a body of transparent maa, a App! 211,51 terial with groups of holes extending therethrough in three directions. Each group of holes when viewed in (52] U.S. 273/130 AC; 273/130 B the direction of the length thereof is arranged in a uni- (Sll Int. Cl. A63f 3/00 form grid pattern The holes extending in each direc- [58] Field of Search...... 273/130 R, 130 AC, l3t) B tion are coplanar with the holes extending in the other 273/l3l AC, l32, I36 E. l36 D, I53 5; two directions whereby the holes intersect within the 35/! 8 A body in groups of three with the points of intersection of the holes being in linear alignment in each of the [56] References Cited three directions as well as diagonally. Resilient ele- UNITED STATES PATENTS merits, balls, for example, are receivable in the holes 1623.729 ll/l97l Wethereil it 273 130 AC m 3 md'hke pusher, prov'defj i 367268] (M972 WU" 273H30 R X tent elements along a hole to a polntof intersection 3.7477931 7/1973 Tuan .8 273/130 B x and therefrom to another P of mlerseclion- A three dimensional form of tic-tac-toe can be played by FOREIGN PATENTS OR AppLlcflATloNs utilizing the described game device. 602,970 S/l960 Canada 273/130 AC 9 Claims. 4 Drawing Figures I THREE DIMENSIONAL 'I'IC-TAC-TOE DEVILE The present invention relates to an amusement or game device and is particularly concerned with a game device which represents a sort ol'tliree dimensional tictac-toe game.

Tic-tac-toe is ordinarily played in the planar form by. for example. marking and 0's in the nine spaces which are formed by four lines. two of which are spaced in the vertical direction and two of which are spaced in the horizontal direction.

The present invention represents a form of this basic sort of game but. instead of the game being played on a paper sheet or the like. a transparent body is provided through which holes are drilled in three different directions with the holes intersecting within the body.

Resilient play members. such as balls or the like slightly larger than the holes can be pushed along the holes to the points of intersection and the game played by attempting to establish a line of. for example. three of the play members in any direction either along the length of a hole or along a straight line joining intersections of the hole.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention. a block of transparent material which may. for example. be plastic. is provided. This body may be in the form of a cube and extending in each of the three directions through the cube is a group of holes. For example. nine holes can be drilled through the cube in each direction with the holes aligned in adjacent faces of the cube and also in coplanar relation. With the holes thus arranged, three holes will intersect at each point of intersection of the holes.

The cube can also be made circular as well as cubical and there may be more than nine holes extending through the cube in each direction.

Play members. which may be in the form of balls of a foamed elastomeric material and slightly larger than the diameter of the holes are provided and a pusher member is also provided for pushing the play pieces along the holes to points of intersection thereof.

The play pieces are in different colors and the game is played by the players playing alternately. moving a play piece in a hole not more than the distance to an adjacent intersection with the attempt being made to align three play pieces of the players color in any one direction.

The exact nature of the present invention will be come more clearly apparent upon reference to the following detailed specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a cube having nine holes drilled thcrethrough in each direction.

FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. I which shows a cube having sixteen holes drilled thcrethrough in each direction.

FIG. 3 is a section taken through a cube in the form of a ball and having nine holes drilled thcrethrough in each of three right angularly related directions.

FIG. 4 is a section through the body of FIG. I and shows in association therewith a play piece and a pusher member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail. in FIG. I, I0 represents a regular cube formed of trans 2 parent material. such as plastic. and having a plurality of holes I2 drilled thcrethrough in each direction. Each set of holes is aligned in two right angularly related directions. and in any two adjacent faces the holes are disposed in common planes parallel to the faces of the cube.

In this manner. the holes intersect within the block to form a plurality of points of intersection. each point of intersection representing the place of intersection of three different holes.

In FIG. 2. I4 is a transparent cube and holes 16 are formed therein in the same manner as described for FIG. 1 except that there are four holes in each row on each side of the block making sixteen holes extending through the block in each of three right angularly related directions.

FIG. 3 shows how a body I8 of transparent material could be made in the form of a ball with nine holes extending thcrethrough in each of three angularly related directions.

FIG. 4 is a section through FIG. I and shows a typical playing piece 22 which may be in the form of a ball of clastomeric material slightly larger than the holes in the block. The playing piece can be pushed by cue or pusher 24 along a hole to a point of intersection thereof and will be retained at the point of intersection because of the radial expansion which the ball undergoes upon reaching the point of intersection.

Two. three or four may play. Cues. or pushcrs. are provided in a color to match the players playing pieces. The first player places a ball in the cube and with the cue moves it to the intersection of the first opening. The cube is then passed to next player. etc. On each succeeding move. an additional ball may be placed in play. or previous one moved one space. until all pieces are in play. At no time may a player move an opponent's piece. or remove one of his own. from the cube once it has been placed in play. To win. you must line up three pieces of the same color along one passageway, while preventing any opponent from doing so.

The game may be played with a varying number of playing pieces, depending on the age or skill of the players. Four pieces for each player of each color are suggested, but to make the game less difficult. more may be used. Also. when three or four are playing. a situation may occur where a player finds all of his pieces blocked and cannot move. The player loses that turn. and if still unable to move on the next turn. forfeits the game which is played to a win by remaining players.

Other games and/or other rules may also be substituted.

Modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a game device; a body of transparent material. holes extending through said body in each of three directions along the lines of intersection of groups of planes, the planes in eacl. group being parallel and each group extending through said body in one of said directions whereby said holes intersect within the body in groups of three. at least one resilient element slightly larger than a said hole receivable in a hole. and a pusher element operable for pushing said element into a hole and along the hole to a point of intersection of the hole with two other holes and from said point of intersection along one of the intersecting holes to a next adjacent said point of intersection.

2. A game device according to claim 1 in which all of the holes are the same diameter.

3. A game device according to claim 1 in which the holes extending in each direction are perpendicular to the holes extending in the other two directions.

4. A game device according to claim 1 in which said body is substantially cubical.

5. A game device according to claim 1 in which said body is substantially spherical.

6. A game device according to claim I which includes a plurality of said resilient elements and made up of at least two groups of the said elements the elements of each group hearing a respective identifying color 7. A game device according to claim I in which the planes of the respective groups are uniformly spaced apart one and the same distance whereby the points of and columns with four holes in each thereof. 

1. In a game device; a body of transparent material, holes extending through said body in each of three directions along the lines of intersection of groups of planes, the planes in each group being parallel and each group extending through said body in one of said directions whereby said holes intersect within the body in groups of three, at least one resilient element slightly larger than a said hole receivable in a hole, and a pusher element operable for pushing said element into a hole and along the hole to a point of intersection of the hole with two other holes and from said point of intersection along one of the intersecting holes to a next adjacent said point of intersection.
 2. A game device according to claim 1 in which all of the holes are the same diameter.
 3. A game device according to claim 1 in which the holes extending in each direction are perpendicular to the holes extending in the other two directions.
 4. A game device according to claim 1 in which said body is substantially cubical.
 5. A game device according to claim 1 in which said body is substantially spherical.
 6. A game device according to claim 1 which includes a plurality of said resilient elements and made up of at least two groups of the said elements, the elements of each group bearing a respective identifying color.
 7. A game device according to claim 1 in which the planes of the respective groups are uniformly spaced apart one and the same distance whereby the points of intersection of the said holes are in alignment diagonally as well as in the direction of the length of a hole.
 8. A game device according to claim 1 in which each group of holes comprises nine holes arranged in rows and columns with three holes in each thereof.
 9. A game device according to claim 1 in which each group of holes comprises sixteen holes arranged in rows and columns with four holes in each thereof. 